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Characteristic Alterations in Responses to Imposed Wrist Displacements in Parkinsonian Rigidity and Dystonia Musculorum Deformans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

W.G. Tatton*
Affiliation:
Playfair Neuroscience Unit, University of Toronto, Jackman Neuroscience Laboratory, West Park Hospital and Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital
W. Bedingham
Affiliation:
Playfair Neuroscience Unit, University of Toronto, Jackman Neuroscience Laboratory, West Park Hospital and Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital
M.C. Verrier
Affiliation:
Playfair Neuroscience Unit, University of Toronto, Jackman Neuroscience Laboratory, West Park Hospital and Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital
R.D.G. Blair
Affiliation:
Playfair Neuroscience Unit, University of Toronto, Jackman Neuroscience Laboratory, West Park Hospital and Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital
*
Playfair Neuroscience Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8
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Abstract:

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The amplitude and temporal modulation of the segmented EMG activity in flexor carpi radialis, evoked by imposed angular wrist extension, was studied with respect to the level of pre-existing background activity in rigid parkinsonian (PK) and dystonia musculorum deformans (DMD) patients. The interdependence of the evoked M1 and M2-3 segments on pre-existing background EMG activity and initial velocity of imposed displacement was established previously for a normal population. Individual responses of 21 parkinsonian and 12 dystonic patients were compared to the established normal “response volume”. The augmented magnitude of the M2-3 segment in rigid PK patients, which correlates to the measure of rigidity, could not be accounted for by the low level of pre-existing EMG activity. Therefore, increased descending facilitation does not impinge directly on alpha motoneurons. Paradoxical excitation in the shortened muscle and resetting of tonic tremor of the stretched muscle by the imposed wrist extension are two other demonstrated abnormalities which may also contribute to PK rigidity. In contrast, DMD patients demonstrated normal amplitude modulation of the M1 and M2-3 segments, but exhibited a disturbance of normal temporal mechanisms that result in constant duration of the M1 and M2-3 responses with imposed force step loads.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1984

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